Method and apparatus for decreasing presentation latency

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure describe automatically changing an output mode of an output device from a first output mode to a latency reduction mode. An initiation signal and the output data may be received from a client device platform or a signal distributor. Upon receiving the initiation signal, the output device may change the output mode from the first output mode to the latency reduction mode. Thereafter, the output device may receive an end latency reduction mode signal. The output device may then revert back to the first output mode. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/709,873, filed Oct. 4, 2012, the entire disclosuresof which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is related to video game emulation. Among otherthings, this application describes a method and apparatus forautomatically changing an output device from a first output mode tolatency reduction mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern televisions utilize image processing to improve the quality ofthe video displayed. For example, televisions may perform digital signalenhancements such as edge enhancements, or the television may utilize abuffer to improve image quality. These image processing steps delay thedisplaying of video frames. Depending on the television model and thevideo settings chosen, the delay due to the additional processing may be50-100 milliseconds or even more. This delay is particularly a concernwith plasma and liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions. In order tokeep the audio synchronized with the video, televisions may delay theaudio signal by a similar amount.

However, when utilizing applications that are sensitive to latencies,such as video games, even when the video and audio are synchronized, thedelay may still be noticed. In the case of gaming system, it takes acertain period of time, before the user sees the result of his actions(e.g., pressing a button on a game controller) displayed by thetelevision. The delay between the user's action and the display on thetelevision is often referred to as a latency or system lag. This latencycreates a problem in quickly moving gaming environments. For example, ina first-person shooter game long latencies may reduce a user's reactiontime, and therefore cause the user to be shot when he would otherwisehave had time to avoid an incoming attack.

For this reason modern televisions often contain a “game mode” in whichsome of the image processing steps are disabled in order to reduce thelatency. While image quality may be affected by utilizing the game mode,it has been seen as a worthwhile tradeoff for those in the gamingcommunity. The game mode option is especially important in the contextof cloud gaming in which the latency due to the television delay forms asignificant portion of the overall latency of the system.

However, there is no automatic way to switch between game mode andstandard mode. Currently users have to switch back and forth betweengame mode and standard mode, which is a cumbersome process. Typicallythis involves entering into a menu and selecting the game mode from alist of options. Further, since the game mode is likely one of manyviewing mode options, many gamers may not even be aware that theirtelevision supports such functionality. As such, users may be slow toadopt cloud-based gaming because of the perceived system lag that theypresume that they cannot decrease. Therefore, it would be desirable tohave a system that automatically selects the game mode for a userwhenever they begin playing.

It is within this context that aspects of the present disclosure arise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a client device platform, adistributor, and an output device communicating over a local network.

FIG. 2A is a diagram describing a system configuration where an outputdevice is connected to a single client device platform according to anaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a diagram describing a system configuration where an outputdevice is connected to a distributor that selectively routes contentdata delivered from one of a plurality of client device platforms to theoutput device according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is flow diagram of a method for automatically changing an outputmode of an output device from a first output mode to a latency reductionoutput mode according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a flow diagram of a method for automatically changing anoutput mode of an output device from a first output mode to a latencyreduction output mode according to an additional aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for detecting when a latencyreduction mode initiation signal is received and when an end latencyreduction mode signal is received according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram describing the instructions for how an outputdevice automatically changes the output mode from a first output mode toa latency reduction output mode according to an additional aspect of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6A is a block diagram describing the instructions for how a clientdevice platform automatically changes the output mode of an outputdevice from a first output mode to a latency reduction output modeaccording to an additional aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a block diagram describing the instructions for how adistributor automatically changes the output mode of an output devicefrom a first output mode to a latency reduction output mode according toan additional aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the following detailed description contains many specificdetails for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to thefollowing details are within the scope of the present disclosure.Accordingly, the aspects of the present disclosure described below areset forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposinglimitations upon, the claims that follow this description.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe a method and an apparatus forautomatically changing an output mode of an output device from a firstoutput mode to a latency reduction mode. An output device may receive alatency reduction mode initiation signal along with output data. Theinitiation signal and the output data may be received from a clientdevice platform or a signal distributor. Upon receiving the initiationsignal, the output device may change the output mode from the firstoutput mode to the latency reduction mode. Thereafter, the output devicemay receive an end latency reduction mode signal. The output device maythen revert the output mode back to the first output mode.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe a latency reduction mode thatis configured to reduce the number of processing operations performed oncontent data by the output device. By way of example, and not by way oflimitation, the output device may be configured to process output datato improve image or audio quality. In a latency reduction mode the imageor audio processing may be reduced or eliminated in order to reduce thetime required to output the content data.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a system 100 according to an aspect of thepresent disclosure. Output device 105 may be accessed by one or moreclient device platforms 104 through a data connection 109. A distributor106 may receive content data 210 from the one or more client deviceplatforms 105 and selectively route the desired stream of content data210 to the output device 105. The client device platforms may receivecontent data 210 from a content provider 107 over a network 160.

Client device platform 104 may include a central processor unit (CPU)131. By way of example, a CPU 131 may include one or more multiple coreprocessors, e.g., a dual-core, quad-core or Cell processors. The clientdevice platform 104 may also include a memory 132 (e.g., RAM, DRAM, ROM,and the like). The CPU 131 may execute a program 133, portions of whichmay be stored in the memory 132. The client device platform 104 may alsoinclude well-known support circuits 140, such as input/output (I/O)circuits 141, power supplies (P/S) 142, a clock (CLK) 143 and cache 144.By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the I/O circuits 141may include a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection.The client device platform 104 may optionally include a mass storagedevice 134 such as a disk drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, or the liketo store programs and/or data. The client device platform 104 may alsooptionally include a display unit 137. The display unit 137 may be inthe form of a cathode ray tube (CRT) or flat panel screen that displaystext, numerals, or graphical symbols. The client device platform 104 mayalso optionally include an infrared (IR) blaster 148. By way of example,the IR blaster 148 may be configured to deliver commands to an outputdevice 105 instructing the output device 105 to change the output mode.

A controller 145 may be connected to the client device platform 104through the I/O circuit 141 or it may be directly integrated into theclient device platform 104. The controller 145 may facilitateinteraction between the client device platform 104 and a user. Thecontroller 145 may include a keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen, touchpad, touch screen, hand-held controls (e.g., game controller) or otherdevice. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the controller145 may be capable of producing a haptic response 146.

The client device platform 104 may include a network interface 139,configured to enable the use of Wi-Fi, an Ethernet port, or othercommunication methods. The network interface 139 may incorporatesuitable hardware, software, firmware or some combination of two or moreof these to facilitate communication via an electronic communicationsnetwork 160. The network interface 139 may be configured to implementwired or wireless communication over local area networks and wide areanetworks such as the Internet. The client device platform 104 may sendand receive data and/or requests for files via one or more data packetsover the network 160.

In some implementations, network settings could be adjusted on theclient device platform 104 for latency. By way of example, and not byway of limitation, the client device platform 104 may have networksettings (e.g., buffer sizes, timeouts, power saving settings, and thelike) that affect latency. Assuming such settings exist, adjusting themappropriately would feel like an overall latency improvement to theuser. As an example, suppose a user presses a button on a gamepad tofire a bullet in a first person shooter (FPS) game. The network settingson the gamepad can be adjusted so that the button press event arrivesearlier at a server, so the user will also see the response earlier onhis output device.

I think these network settings exist. I expect there will be a trade-offbetween latency, efficiently using the network channel (you may not usethe network to its full limit if you send network packets as soon as youcan) and in the context of a mobile device you may drain your batterymore quickly (e.g. network transceiver will be turned on a biggerportion of time).

The preceding components may exchange signals with each other via aninternal system bus 150. The client device platform 104 may be a generalpurpose computer that becomes a special purpose computer when mimingcode that implements embodiments of the present invention as describedherein. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the clientdevice platform 104 may be a gaming console, a set top box, a cable box,a personal computer, a tablet computer, a telephone, a cell phone, a DVDplayer, a Blu-Ray player, a digital video recorder (DVR), or othersimilar devices, or any combination thereof. Other possible types ofdevices that may be a client device platform includes streaming mediaplayers, such as the Roku SoundBridge network music player, the Roku DVPInternet streaming video receiving from Roku, Inc. of Saratoga, Calif.or Apple TV digital media receiver from Apple Inc of Cuptertino, Calif.

The output device 105 may include a central processor unit (CPU) 131′.By way of example, a CPU 131′ may include one or more multiple coreprocessors, e.g., a dual-core, quad-core or Cell processors. The outputdevice 105 may also include a memory 132′ (e.g., RAM, DRAM, ROM, and thelike). The CPU 131′ may execute a program 133′, portions of which may bestored in the memory 132′. The output device 105 may also includewell-known support circuits 140′, such as input/output (I/O) circuits141′, power supplies (P/S) 142′, a clock (CLK) 143′ and cache 144′. Byway of example, and not by way of limitation, the I/O circuits 141′ mayinclude a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection. Theoutput device 105 may optionally include a mass storage device 134′ suchas a disk drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, or the like to store programsand/or data. The output device 105 may also optionally include a displayunit 137′ and user interface unit 138′ to facilitate interaction betweenthe output device 105 and a user who requires direct access to theoutput device 105. The display unit 137′ may be in the form of a cathoderay tube (CRT) or flat panel screen such as, but not limited to, an LCD,plasma, LED, or an OLED that displays text, numerals, or graphicalsymbols. The user interface unit 138′ may include a keyboard, mouse,joystick, light pen, or other device. The output device 105 may alsoinclude an audio unit 147′. The audio unit 147′ may be in the form ofspeakers. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the speakersmay be a single speaker, or a system of two or more speakers such as asurround sound speaker system. The output device 105 may also optionallyinclude an IR receiver 149′ configured to receive command signals froman IR blaster 148″ from a distributor 106 or an IR blaster 148 from aclient device platform 104. By way of example, the command signals mayinstruct the output device 105 to change the output mode of the clientdevice platform 105. The output device 105 may include a networkinterface 139′, configured to enable the use of Wi-Fi, an Ethernet port,or other communication methods.

The network interface 139′ may incorporate suitable hardware, software,firmware or some combination of two or more of these to facilitatecommunication via the electronic communications network 160. The networkinterface 139′ may be configured to implement wired or wirelesscommunication over local area networks and wide area networks such asthe Internet. The output device 105 may send and receive data and/orrequests for files via one or more data packets over the network 160.

The preceding components may exchange signals with each other via aninternal system bus 150′. The output device 105 may be a general purposecomputer that becomes a special purpose computer when miming code thatimplements embodiments of the present invention as described herein. Byway of example, and not by way of limitation, the output device 105 maybe a television, a projector, a personal computer, a tablet computer, aspeaker system, a whole house speaker system (i.e., a series of speakerslocated in two or more rooms throughout a building), a telephone, or anysimilar devices, or any combination thereof. Other possible devices thatmay be used as the output device 105 include mobile phones or portablegame consoles, such as the PS Vita from Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.of Tokyo, Japan

The output device 105 may have two or more output modes. Differentoutput modes may be configured to display certain types of content data210 in an optimal manner. By way of example, and not by way oflimitation, under non-latency sensitive applications, such as viewing alive television feed delivered from a cable box, an output device mayimplement additional processing on the content data. By way of example,and not by way of limitation, the additional processing may includeextensive buffering of a data stream and/or edge enhancements for eachframe of a video stream. Additionally, the output device may be capableof implementing a latency reduction mode. By way of example, and not byway of limitation, the latency reduction mode may reduce or eliminateadditional processing of the content data 210. The latency reductionmode may also be referred to as a “game mode”. The different outputmodes may be implemented through the execution of different programs133′ or through hardware or firmware or any combination thereof.Additionally, additional output modes, including the addition of alatency reduction mode, may be added to an output device 105 through afirmware or software update.

The distributor 106 may include a central processor unit (CPU) 131″. Byway of example, a CPU 131″ may include one or more multiple coreprocessors, e.g., a dual-core, quad-core or processor architecturehaving a main processor and one or more co-processors, such as a Cellprocessor. The distributor 106 may also include a memory 132″ (e.g.,RAM, DRAM, ROM, and the like). The CPU 131″ may execute a program 133″,portions of which may be stored in the memory 132″. The distributor 106may also include well-known support circuits 140″, such as input/output(I/O) circuits 141″, power supplies (P/S) 142″, a clock (CLK) 143″ andcache 144″. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the I/Ocircuits 141″ may include a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)connection. The distributor 106 may optionally include a mass storagedevice 134″ such as a disk drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, or the liketo store programs and/or data. The distributor 106 may also optionallyinclude a display unit 137″ and user interface unit 138″ to facilitateinteraction between the distributor 106 and a user who requires directaccess to the distributor 106. The display unit 137″ may be in the formof a cathode ray tube (CRT) or flat panel screen that displays text,numerals, or graphical symbols. The user interface unit 138″ may includea keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen, remote control, touch pad, touchscreen, or other device. The distributor 106 may also optionally includean infrared IR blaster 148″. By way of example, the IR blaster 148″ maybe configured to deliver commands to an output device 105 instructingthe output device 105 to change the output mode. The distributor 106 mayinclude a network interface 139″, configured to enable the use of Wi-Fi,an Ethernet port, or other communication methods.

The network interface 139″ may incorporate suitable hardware, software,firmware or some combination of two or more of these to facilitatecommunication via the electronic communications network 160. The networkinterface 139″ may be configured to implement wired or wirelesscommunication over local area networks and wide area networks such asthe Internet. The distributor 106 may send and receive data and/orrequests for files via one or more data packets over the network 160.

The preceding components may exchange signals with each other via aninternal system bus 150″. The distributor 106 may be a general purposecomputer that becomes a special purpose computer when miming code thatimplements embodiments of the present invention as described herein. Byway of example, and not by way of limitation, a distributor may be a settop box, a home entertainment system, an equalizer, a mixer, a wirelesshub, or similar devices or any combination thereof.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict two possible system configurations that mayutilize aspects of the present disclosure in order to reduce the latencyin the display of content data 210 associated with a latency sensitiveapplication. In FIGS. 2A and 2B dashed arrows indicate the transfer ofdata over a network 160 and solid arrows indicate the transfer of dataover a data connection 109. By way of example, and not by way oflimitation, the data connection 109 may be a wired connection or awireless connection. Wired data connections 109 may include connectionssuch as, but not limited to, HDMI Ethernet, Thunderbolt, Display Port,or coaxial connections. Wireless data connections 109 may includeconnections such as, but not limited to, Wi-Fi, internet wirelessdisplay (WiDi), wireless HD, wireless HDMI, Bluetooth, or infraredconnections. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, thecontent data 210 may be a video stream and/or an audio stream. By way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, a latency sensitive applicationmay be a video game delivered over a cloud based network, videoconferencing, video chat, audio conferencing, or audio streaming overmultiple speakers in separate rooms of a building. In addition, remote“desktop” applications, e.g., involving streaming of data for a computerprogram session running on a remote machine, may be considered a latencysensitive application. Examples of remote desktop applications include,but are not limited to like VNC, Citrix, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).Such applications may be used, e.g., to implement remote streaming ofdesktop sessions of conventional computer applications such as MicrosoftOffice, Adobe Photoshop and the like.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a first aspect of the present disclosuredepicting system configuration 200. System configuration 200 includes anoutput device 105 that may receive content data 210 associated with alatency sensitive application directly from a client device platform104. The client device platform 104 may receive the content data 210from a content provider 107. By way of example, and not by way oflimitation, a content provider 107 may be a cable company, a video gameprovider, or a telephone service provider, and any other company thatdelivers media or data communications over a network 160.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of a second aspect of the present disclosuredepicting system configuration 201. System configuration 201 includes anoutput device 105 that may receive content data 210 associated with alatency sensitive application from a distributor 106. This arrangementis useful when two or more client device platforms 104 each delivercontent data 210 to a single output device 105. By way of example, andnot by way of limitation, the distributor 106 may be a home theatersystem that is capable of receiving content data 210 from a gamingconsole 104, a Blu-Ray player 104′, and a cable box 104″. Thedistributor 106 may control which of the data connections 109 will bedisplayed on the output device 105 at any given time.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the output device 105 may be configured toimplement a method for automatically changing the output mode of theoutput device 105 from a first output mode to a latency reduction modeaccording to an inventive method 300. Various aspects of the method 300may be implemented by execution of computer executable instructionsrunning on the output device 105 and/or the client device platform 104in conjunction with the actions of the output device 105. Specifically,an output device 105 may be configured, e.g., by suitable programming,to implement certain output device instructions 371. In addition, aclient device platform 104 may be configured to implement certain clientdevice platform instructions 370. In FIG. 3A the dashed arrows representthe flow of data between the client device platform 104 and the outputdevice 105 over a data connection 109.

Upon receiving content data 210 associated with a latency sensitiveapplication the client device platform 104 may automatically deliver alatency reduction mode initiation signal 311 to the output device 105 atblock 372. The client device platform 104 may insert the initiationsignal 311 into the data stream containing the content data 210 that isbeing delivered to the output device 105. By way of example, and not byway of limitation, the initiation signal 311 may be inserted into aheader for a packet containing content data 210, or the initiationsignal 311 may be sent as individual data packet in addition to thecontent data 210.

Alternatively, the initiation signal 311 may be a command signaldelivered over the data connection 109. By way of example, and not byway of limitation, the initiation signal 311 may be a consumerelectronics control (CEC) command CEC is a feature of the HDMI standarddesigned to allow devices attached by HDMI cables to control each other.Specifically, CEC is a one-wire bidirectional serial bus that uses theAV.link protocol to perform remote control functions. As such, theinitiation signal 311 may be a CEC command delivered over an HDMI dataconnection 109 that instructs the output device 105 to change the outputmode to the latency reduction mode. Further by way of example, and notby way of limitation, the initiation signal 311 may be an IR commanddelivered to the output device 105 by an IR blaster 148.

At 373 the output device 105 may receive the latency reduction modeinitiation signal 311. The reception of the initiation signal 311 causesthe output device 105 to change the output mode from a first output modeto a latency reduction mode. By way of example, and not by way oflimitation, the first output mode may be the default output mode of theoutput device 105 or it may be an alternative display mode optimized forobserving specific types of media, such as a movie display mode or asports channel display mode. When the initiation signal 311 is not acommand signal, the initiation signal 311 may indicate that the outputdevice 105 needs to execute an output mode switching program in order tochange the output mode to the latency reduction mode. By way of example,the output mode switching program may be a program 133′ stored on theCPU 131′ or in a memory 132′ of the output device 105 that when executedcauses the output device to change the output mode to the latencyreduction mode. If the initiation signal 311 is a CEC command or an IRcommand, then initiation signal 311 may be configured to control theoutput device 105 and will automatically cause the output device 105 tochange the output mode to the latency reduction mode without having torun an additional operation.

When the client device platform 104 is no longer delivering content data210 that corresponds to a latency sensitive application, the clientdevice platform 104 may deliver an end latency reduction mode signal 312to the output device as shown at block 375. The end latency reductionmode signal 312 may be similar to that of latency reduction modeinitiation signal 311 in that it may be a signal sent along with thecontent data 210, or it may be a CEC command signal or an IR commandsignal. At 376 the output device 105 may receive the end latencyreduction mode signal 312. Upon receiving the end latency reduction modesignal 312, the output device 105 may change the output mode back to thefirst output mode. Similar to block 374, if the end latency reductionmode signal 312 is not a command signal, the end latency reduction modesignal 312 may indicate that the output device 105 needs to execute anoutput mode switching program in order to change the output mode back tothe first output mode. Alternatively, if the end latency reduction modesignal 312 is a CEC command or an IR command, then end latency reductionmode signal 312 may be configured to control the output device 105 andwill automatically cause the output device 105 to change the output modeback to the first output mode without having to run an additionaloperation.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the output device 105 may be configured toimplement a method for automatically changing the output mode of theoutput device 105 from a first output mode to a latency reduction modeaccording to an inventive method 301. Various aspects of the method 301may be implemented by execution of computer executable instructionsrunning on the output device 105 and/or the distributor 106 inconjunction with the actions of the output device 105. Specifically, anoutput device 105 may be configured, e.g., by suitable programming, toimplement certain output device instructions 371′. In addition, adistributor 106 may be configured to implement certain distributorinstructions 370′. In FIG. 3B the dashed arrows represent the flow ofdata between the distributor 106 and the output device 105 over a dataconnection 109.

Method 301 is similar to that of method 300, with the exception that theclient device platform 104 of method 300 is replaced with a distributor106. Utilization of a distributor 106 allows for an output device 105 toselectively receive content data 210 from multiple client deviceplatforms 104. When the distributor 106 delivers content data 210 thatis associated with a latency sensitive application, method 301 may beutilized.

Upon receiving content data 210 associated with a latency sensitiveapplication the distributor 106 may deliver a latency reduction modeinitiation signal 311 to the output device 105 at block 372′. Thedistributor 106 may insert the initiation signal 311 into the datastream containing the content data 210 being delivered to the outputdevice 105. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, theinitiation signal 311 may be inserted into a header for a packetcontaining content data 210, or the initiation signal 311 may be sent asindividual data packet in addition to the content data 210.

Aspects of the present disclosure also describe an initiation signal 311that may be a command signal delivered over the data connection 109. Byway of example, and not by way of limitation, the initiation signal 311may be a CEC command. As such, the CEC command may be delivered over anHDMI data connection 109 in order to instruct the output device 105 tochange the output mode to the latency reduction mode. Further by way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, the initiation signal 311 may bean IR command delivered to the output device 105 by an IR blaster 148″.

Other additional aspects of the present disclosure also include havingthe distributor 106 deliver a latency reduction mode initiation signal311 to the output device 105 when the content data 210 being deliveredto the output device 105 originates from a client device platform 104that is known to run applications that are latency sensitive. By way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, a client device platform 104 maybe a gaming console that is used primarily for latency sensitiveapplications such as cloud based gaming. When this is the case, when thegaming console's content data 210 is being routed to the output device105 the distributor 106 may always deliver the latency reductioninitiation signal 311. The distributor 106 may predetermine which clientdevice platforms 104 will be accompanied by an initiation signal 311based factors such as, but not limited to, historical use, defaultsettings, and/or user designation.

For example, historical use may be determined by calculating the totalpercentage of time a client device platform 104 utilizes a latencyreduction mode. If the total percentage is over a threshold value, suchas fifty percent or any other level, then the distributor will deliverthe initiation signal 311. The total percentage may also be adjusted forfactors such as time of the day, day of the week, or month. This may bebeneficial if a user has a pattern of utilizing a certain client deviceplatform 104 in the evenings for cloud based gaming sessions, andutilizing the same client device platform 104 in the morning for gamingsessions in which the game is stored in a memory or a disk within theclient device platform 104.

Additionally, the distributor 106 may be programmed to recognize certaintypes of client device platforms 104 as ones that traditionally utilizeapplications that are latency sensitive. By way of example, adistributor 106 may recognize gaming consoles as being client deviceplatforms that utilize latency sensitive applications, and thereforehave predetermined defaults to add an initiation signal 311 upon thedelivery of the content data 210 that originates from a gaming console.Alternatively, a client device platform 104 such as a cable box, may betraditionally seen as not miming latency sensitive applications, and assuch the default may be to not add an initiation signal along with thecontent data 210 received from a cable box.

However, the predetermined defaults may not always be what a userdesires. For instance, cable companies are beginning to deliver morecloud based content to users through cable boxes. Applications such ascloud based gaming and simultaneous group viewing experiences, such asthose described in commonly owned patent application Ser. No.13/631,622, to Joseph Dodson et al., entitled “PLAYBACK SYNCHRONIZATIONIN A GROUP VIEWING A MEDIA TITLE”, and filed date, month, year, andincorporated herein in its entirety, are becoming more common Therefore,a user may often use a cable box for these types of latency sensitiveapplications, and it may be desirable to allow the user to change thedefault settings of the distributor 106 to best suit their personalpreferences.

At 373′ the output device 105 may receive the latency reduction modeinitiation signal 311. The output device 105 may respond to reception ofthe initiation signal 311 by automatically changing the output mode froma first output mode to a latency reduction mode. By way of example, andnot by way of limitation, the first output mode may be the defaultoutput mode of the output device 105 or it may be an alternative displaymode optimized for observing specific types of media, such as a moviedisplay mode or a sports channel display mode. When the initiationsignal 311 is not a command signal, the initiation signal 311 mayindicate that the output device 105 needs to execute an output modeswitching program in order to change the output mode to the latencyreduction mode. By way of example, the output mode switching program maybe a program 133′ stored on the CPU 131′ or in a memory 132′ of theoutput device 105 that when executed causes the output device 105 tochange the output mode to the latency reduction mode. If the initiationsignal 311 is a CEC command or an IR command, then initiation signal 311may be configured to control the output device 105 and willautomatically cause the output device 105 to change the output mode tothe latency reduction mode without having to run an additionaloperation.

When the distributor 106 is no longer delivering content data 210 thatcorresponds to a latency sensitive application to the output device 105,the distributor 106 may automatically deliver an end latency reductionmode signal 312 to the output device as shown at block 375′. The endlatency reduction mode signal 312 may be similar to that of latencyreduction mode initiation signal 311 in that it may be a signal sentalong with the content data 210, or it may be a CEC command signal or anIR command signal. At 376′ the output device 105 may receive the endlatency reduction mode signal 312. Upon receiving the end latencyreduction mode signal 312, the output device 105 may change the outputmode back to the first output mode. Similar to block 374′, if the endlatency reduction mode signal 312 is not a command signal, the endlatency reduction mode signal 312 may indicate that the output device105 needs to execute an output mode switching program in order to changethe output mode back to the first output mode. Alternatively, if the endlatency reduction mode signal 312 is a CEC command or an IR command,then end latency reduction mode signal 312 may be configured to controlthe output device 105 and will automatically cause the output device 105to change the output mode back to the first output mode without havingto run an additional operation.

According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the latencyreduction mode initiation signal 311 and end latency reduction mode 312may be implemented through a token system described in FIG. 4. The useof a token system may be implemented when the initiation signal 311 is anon-command signal delivered by either a client device platform 104 or adistributor 106. The client device platform 104 or the distributor 106may insert the initiation signal 311 into the data stream containing thecontent data 210 being delivered to the output device 105. By way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, the initiation signal 311 may beinserted into a header for a packet containing content data 210, or theinitiation signal 311 may be sent as individual data packet in additionto the content data 210. Once the initiation signal 311 has beendelivered, the sending device 104 or 106 will continue to supply tokensalong with the content data 210 as long as the latency reduction mode isdesired. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the tokens maybe delivered in a header of subsequent content data 210, or it may bedelivered as individual data packets in addition to the content data210. The tokens may be delivered with each packet of the content data210, or they may be delivered along with the content data at regularintervals, such as every, 1, 5, or 10 seconds or any other desiredinterval length. When the latency reduction mode is no longer desired,the sending device 104 or 106 may cease the delivery of the tokens. Thenon-receipt of a token is considered the end latency reduction modesignal, and as such the output device 105 will be instructed to changethe output mode back to the first state.

The token system may be implemented in accordance with method 400. Inmethod 400 an output device 105 must first determine if it is presentlyin a latency reduction mode at decision block 451. If it is not in alatency reduction mode, then method 400 proceeds to block 456 where theoutput device 105 must check for receipt of a latency reductioninitiation signal 311. If the output device 105 determines that aninitiation signal 311 has been received at decision block 457, thenoutput device 105 progresses to block 458 and initiates the latencyreduction mode. Once the latency reduction mode is initiated, method 400progresses to block 452. If however an initiation signal 311 was notreceived at block 457, then method 400 progresses to block 459 andremains in the first output mode. Thereafter, the method continues backto block 456 to continue checking for a latency reduction initiationsignal 311.

If the answer to block 451 is yes, then method 400 proceeds to block452. At block 452, the output device 105 is instructed to check for atoken and proceeds to decision block 453. If the output device 105 hasreceived a token at block 453, then the method continues to block 454and the output device 105 will remain in the latency reduction mode.After block 454, the method begins the loop again by advancing back toblock 452 where the method will check again for a token. However, if atoken was not received at block 453, then method 400 continues to block455. At block 455 the output device 105 ends the latency reduction modeand reverts back to the first output mode. Thereafter, the methodcontinues on to block 456, where the output device will begin checkingfor an initiation signal 311. It is noted that in some implementations,the initiation signal 311 may be in the form of a token.

According to additional aspects of the present disclosure, the outputdevice may provide information to the client device platform 104, thedistributor 106, or the content provider 107 informing them what thefirst output mode was. The information may be provided as a result of aquery from either of the devices 104, 106 or from the content provider107. Alternatively, the output device may automatically deliver theinformation back to the devices 104, 106 or the content provider 107upon receiving a latency reduction mode initiation signal 311. This isuseful when the end latency reduction mode signal 312 is a commandsignal such as a CEC command, or an IR command, because the signal mayinclude a command to revert the output mode back to the first outputmode without further processing by the output device 105.

According to other additional aspects of the present disclosure theclient device platform 104 may be configured, e.g., by suitableprogramming or dedicated hardware to be able to query the result of thelatency reduction. Assuming there was a failure of the output device 105to move to a low latency mode, the ‘query result capability’ allows theclient device 104 to present a notification to that effect to the user.For instance the client device 104 may show a message stating that cloudgaming is not possible because the latency is too high.

As shown in FIG. 5, a set of output device instructions 581 may beimplemented, e.g., by the output device 105. The output deviceinstructions 581 may be formed on a nontransitory computer readablemedium such as the memory 132′ or the mass storage device 134′. Theoutput device instructions 581 may also be part of the process controlprogram 133′. At 583, the instructions may include instructions forreceiving a latency reduction mode initiation signal. Thereafter, theoutput device instructions 581 may include instructions for the outputdevice 105 to automatically change the output mode from a first outputmode to the latency reduction mode at 584. At 586, the output device 104may be instructed to receive an end latency reduction mode signal.Thereafter the instruction 581 may include instructions forautomatically changing the output mode from the latency reduction modeback to the first output mode at 587 in response to receipt of the endlatency reduction mode signal.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a set of client device platform instructions 680may be implemented, e.g., by the client device platform 104. The clientdevice platform instructions 680 may be formed on a nontransitorycomputer readable medium such as the memory 132 or the mass storagedevice 134. The client device platform instructions 680 may also be partof the process control program 133. At 682, the instructions may includeinstructions for automatically delivering a latency reduction modeinitiation signal to the output device 105 upon entering or resuming alatency-sensitive application. Thereafter, at 685 the instructions mayinclude instructing the client device platform 104 to automaticallydeliver the end latency mode signal to the output device 105, e.g., uponending, exiting or suspending the latency-sensitive application.

As shown in FIG. 6B, a set of distributor instructions 680 ‘may beimplemented, e.g., by the distributor 106. The distributor instructions680’ may be formed on a nontransitory computer readable medium such asthe memory 132″ or the mass storage device 134″. The distributorinstructions 680′ may also be part of the process control program 133″.At 682′, the instructions may include instructions for automaticallydelivering a latency reduction mode initiation signal to the outputdevice 105. Thereafter, at 685′ the instructions may include instructingthe distributor 106 to automatically deliver the end latency mode signalto the output device 105.

Aspects of the present disclosure also encompass situations where alatency reduction mode is not available at the output device 105. Forexample, in some cases the client device 104 may query the output deviceand determine that a reduced latency mode is not available. In such acase, the client device 104 may be configured to respond to adetermination that the output device is not able to go into a reducedlatency mode by presenting a warning to the user and/or by disablingaccess to certain content that is latency sensitive.

According to some aspects of the present disclosure the client device104 may be configured to query the output device 105 to determinewhether the output device is operating in a low latency mode or whetherthe output device is even capable of operating in such a mode. Theclient device may implement such a query, e.g., though suitableinstructions in the program, 133.

There are a number of different ways in which one could implement thelatency mode query on the part of the client device. For example, a‘latency status query’ could be sent by the client device 104 throughthe same channel used to initiate the reduced latency mode switch.Depending on how reduced latency mode switching′ is implemented theremay or may not be a way to query the result. In case of HDMI-CEC astatus query could be implemented, but using an IR-blaster this could beimpractical since the communication is one-way.

One possible way to implement a latency mode query with the clientdevice would be to send the latency mode switch signal to the outputdevice and then check to see if the latency of the output devicesubsequently changes. In some implementations, a basic latency test ofthis type could be conducted through use of a camera coupled to or partof the client device 104 and a test pattern displayed by the outputdevice and viewed by the camera. A webcam or mobile phone may besufficiently latency-sensitive to notice a difference in latency betweenbefore and after switching to or from the latency reduction mode.Alternatively, server-client latency may be tested, e.g., by timingbutton presses on a gamepad to a camera.

While the above is a complete description of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is possible to use various alternatives,modifications and equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the presentinvention should be determined not with reference to the abovedescription but should, instead, be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with their full scope of equivalents. Any featuredescribed herein, whether preferred or not, may be combined with anyother feature described herein, whether preferred or not. In the claimsthat follow, the indefinite article “A”, or “An” refers to a quantity ofone or more of the item following the article, except where expresslystated otherwise. The appended claims are not to be interpreted asincluding means-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation isexplicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase “means for.”

What is claimed is:
 1. A nontransitory computer readable mediumcontaining instructions for changing an output mode on an output devicefrom a first output mode to a latency reduction mode, and whereinexecution of the program instructions by one or more processors of acomputer system causes the one or more processors to carry out a method,the method comprising: a) receiving a latency reduction mode initiationsignal; b) automatically changing the output mode from the first outputmode to the latency reduction mode in response to receipt of the latencyreduction mode signal, wherein the latency reduction mode causes theoutput device to cease one or more processing operations on a set ofcontent data displayed by the output device; c) receiving an end latencyreduction mode signal; and d) automatically changing the output modefrom the latency reduction mode to the first output mode in response toreceipt of the end latency reduction mode signal, wherein the latencyreduction mode initiation signal is a token that is received along withthe content data that will be displayed by the output device, whereinthe token is continuously received at regular intervals with subsequentcontent data received by the output device, and wherein the end latencyreduction mode signal is the absence of a token in the content datareceived by the output device.
 2. The nontransitory computer readablemedium of claim 1, wherein the latency reduction mode initiation signaland the end latency reduction mode signal are received over ahigh-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection.
 3. Thenontransitory computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the latencyreduction mode initiation signal and the end latency reduction modesignal are consumer electronics control (CEC) commands.
 4. Thenontransitory computer readable medium of claim 2, wherein the HDMIconnection is a wireless HDMI connection.
 5. The nontransitory computerreadable medium of claim 1, wherein the latency reduction modeinitiation signal and the end latency reduction mode signal are receivedfrom an infrared (IR) blaster.
 6. The nontransitory computer readablemedium of claim 1, wherein the latency reduction mode initiation signaland the end latency reduction mode signal are received from a clientdevice platform.
 7. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim6, wherein the client device platform is a gaming console.
 8. Thenontransitory computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the clientdevice platform is a set top box.
 9. The nontransitory computer readablemedium of claim 6, wherein the client device platform is a computer. 10.The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein theclient device platform is a telephonic system.
 11. The nontransitorycomputer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the content data is a videogame.
 12. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 1, whereinthe content data is a video stream.
 13. The nontransitory computerreadable medium of claim 1, wherein the content data is an audio stream.14. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein thecontent data is data stream of a computer program session running on aremote machine.
 15. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim1, wherein the output device is a television.
 16. The nontransitorycomputer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the output device is aprojector.
 17. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 1,wherein the output device is one or more speakers.
 18. A nontransitorycomputer readable medium containing instructions for changing an outputmode on an output device from a first output mode to a latency reductionmode, and wherein execution of the program instructions by one or moreprocessors of a computer system causes the one or more processors tocarry out a method, the method comprising: a) receiving a latencyreduction mode initiation signal; b) automatically changing the outputmode from the first output mode to the latency reduction mode inresponse to receipt of the latency reduction mode signal, wherein thelatency reduction mode causes the output device to cease one or moreprocessing operations on a set of content data displayed by the outputdevice; c) receiving an end latency reduction mode signal; and d)automatically changing the output mode from the latency reduction modeto the first output mode in response to receipt of the end latencyreduction mode signal wherein the latency reduction mode initiationsignal and the end latency reduction mode signal are received from adistributor, and wherein the distributor is configured to selectivelyroute content data from one of a plurality of client device platforms tothe output device.
 19. The nontransitory computer readable medium ofclaim 18, wherein the distributor delivers the latency reduction modeinitiation signal and the end latency reduction mode signal when thecontent data received by the output device originated from a clientdevice platform that received the content data from a cloud basedcontent provider.
 20. The nontransitory computer readable medium ofclaim 18, wherein the distributor predetermines which of the pluralityof client device platforms should include a latency reduction modeinitiation signal when their content data is selectively routed to theoutput device.
 21. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim20, wherein the distributor predetermines which of the plurality ofclient device platforms should include a latency reduction modeinitiation signal when their content data is selectively routed to theoutput device when a client device platform by utilizing historical usedata.
 22. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 20,wherein the distributor predetermines which of the plurality of clientdevice platforms should include a latency reduction mode initiationsignal when their content data is selectively routed to the outputdevice when a client device platform by utilizing default settingsand/or user designations.
 23. The nontransitory computer readable mediumof claim 21, wherein the audio stream is telephonic conversation. 24.The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein thelatency reduction mode initiation signal and the end latency reductionmode signal are received over a high-definition multimedia interface(HDMI) connection.
 25. The nontransitory computer readable medium ofclaim 24, wherein the latency reduction mode initiation signal and theend latency reduction mode signal are consumer electronics control (CEC)commands.
 26. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 24,wherein the HDMI connection is a wireless HDMI connection.
 27. Thenontransitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the latencyreduction mode initiation signal and the end latency reduction modesignal are received from an infrared (IR) blaster.
 28. An output device,comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; one or moreinstructions embodied in memory for execution by the processor, theinstructions being configured to implement a method for changing anoutput mode on an output device from a first output mode to a latencyreduction mode, the method comprising: a) receiving a latency reductionmode initiation signal from a distributor, wherein the distributor isconfigured to selectively route content data from one of a plurality ofclient device platforms to the output device; b) automatically changingthe output mode from the first output mode to the latency reduction modein response to receipt of the latency reduction mode signal, wherein thelatency reduction mode causes the output device to cease one or moreprocessing operations on a set of content data displayed by the outputdevice; c) receiving an end latency reduction mode signal from thedistributor; and d) automatically changing the output mode from thelatency reduction mode to the first output mode in response to receiptof the end latency reduction mode signal.
 29. A method, comprising: a)receiving a latency reduction mode initiation signal from a distributor,wherein the distributor is configured to selectively route content datafrom one of a plurality of client device platforms to the output device;b) automatically changing the output mode from the first output mode tothe latency reduction mode in response to receipt of the latencyreduction mode signal, wherein the latency reduction mode causes theoutput device to cease one or more processing operations on a set ofcontent data displayed by the output device; c) receiving an end latencyreduction mode signal from the distributor; and d) automaticallychanging the output mode from the latency reduction mode to the firstoutput mode in response to receipt of the end latency reduction modesignal.
 30. A nontransitory computer readable medium containinginstructions for changing an output mode on an output device from afirst output mode to a latency reduction mode, and wherein execution ofthe program instructions by one or more processors of a computer systemcauses the one or more processors to carry out a method, the methodcomprising: a) receiving a latency reduction mode initiation signal,wherein the latency reduction mode initiation signal and an end latencyreduction mode signal are received over a high-definition multimediainterface (HDMI) connection; b) automatically changing the output modefrom the first output mode to the latency reduction mode in response toreceipt of the latency reduction mode initiation signal, wherein thelatency reduction mode causes the output device to cease one or moreprocessing operations on a set of content data displayed by the outputdevice; c) receiving an end latency reduction mode signal, wherein thelatency reduction mode initiation signal and the end latency reductionmode signal are consumer electronics control (CEC) commands; and d)automatically changing the output mode from the latency reduction modeto the first output mode in response to receipt of the end latencyreduction mode signal, wherein the latency reduction mode initiationsignal is a token that is received along with the content data that willbe displayed by the output device, wherein the token is continuouslyreceived at regular intervals with subsequent content data received bythe output device, and wherein the end latency reduction mode signal isthe absence of a token in the content data received by the outputdevice.